Great Fall Evening

Is anyone else loving this weather?? The other night in Iowa, I was refereeing a game and thought that it couldn't get much better than it already was. Well, tonight could be another one of those nights. I'll be outside, enjoying soccer, and a beautiful fall evening, not to mention, a good rivalry. Tonight is the cross town battle with Mitchell Christian and Mitchell Public. Sadly, it will wrap up my high school refereeing season already. The season only lasts for nine months, but it's hard to believe they are gone already. I still have at least a month of officiating left. I'll work about every weekend into November, but this is the farewell to high school soccer for 2009, and I'm going to go and love every minute of it!

Curse of Iowa Lives On

Well, I'm slowly trying to overcome this supposed "curse" that seems to exist between me, and this state (Iowa). I had a soccer game that went long on Sunday, and I was slightly late getting to the airport, but I still made the flight. So, I boarded the plane, and we very, very slowly made our way to the end of the runway for take off. We seemed to be taxiing for ever, and we finally arrived at the end of the taxiway when the pilot came on the intercom and announced that there was a backup in Minneapolis, and we were delayed for half an hour. The plane got warm, and we got a bit restless, but we made it to Minneapolis about 35 minutes late. I was fine, because i had a decent layover. I kind of like a couple of built in hours for situations like that. So, I ended up arriving in Cedar Rapids just fine, and until tonight, things had been ok. I ended up leaving slightly early today with an upset stomach, but am feeling slightly better. I've almost got it licked though, tomorrow, home! I will still not get away from this state, however, as I'm back on Saturday for a soccer match in western Iowa. It's kinda like the Hotel California, you can never leave.

The Denver Saga - Pt. 2

Not long after writing yesterday's post, I had the following story happen to me.

So, I'm in the Denver Airport, and I'm still an hour and half away from flight departure time. So, I just decide to head down to the gate and take advantage of the free wireless internet offered at DIA. So, I do some research, and finish somethings that need to be done, call a couple of people, and then decide to pack it up as boarding time is approaching. I made a trek to the bathroom, and while in there, saw someone I thought looked like my dad's crop consultant, Brett. I wasn't sure, but he looked right at me and didn't indicate he knew me, so I figured I must be imagining things. I'm not so convinced though, so I called dad.

"Dad, when's the last time you saw your crop consultant?"

"I'm not sure. It's been a while actually."

"Well, I might know why. I think he's sitting here in Denver."

"Really?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure it's him, but not positive."

"Well, I'll call him and we'll see if he answers his phone."

So, as dad is calling, I walked over and sat down a seat away from Brett and his wife who was with him. I'm sitting there just minding my own business, when my phone rings again, so I get up and answer it and walk a little ways away. Dad and I talk a little more, as Brett hadn't picked up his phone, I wasn't sure, but I turned around and walked back to my seat in the terminal, and he looks up from his reading and recognizes me immediately, so I start smarting off, "You should really answer you phone when clients call you."

Brett as he's reaching for his phone: "Why? Ohh, I did miss a call. I missed 3 calls. All from your dad. Go figure!"

We had a fun time chatting for the last little bit and I got to tell my DENVER story again! They thought it was crazy. So, it comes time to board, and we all three get up and head to the jetway together, and as we're heading down to the plane, I hear Brett's wife ask what seat their in, and hear his slightly disgusted repsonse that they are split up again. "I've got 14A and you've got 14C (as he turns to me). This has been unreal. Our whole trip and we've not been beside each other once. What seat do you have?" he asked me as he sees me looking at my boarding pass.

I replied, "Ummm, I'm in 14B."

Hahaha!! This is great!! What are the odds! I wasn't even supposed to be in Denver. I ran into people I knew in Denver, and not only that, owned the seat between them on plane. I had bought my ticket at 2:30 that afternoon, and still got between them! Seriously, who scheduled that?? All the complaints I have about my travel agent are now subsided for a while. Anyhow, I did give up my seat, but then on the plane, spaced out and was goofing around with an electonic device as we're taxiing out to the runway. The flight attendant comes by and sternly tells me to put it away, which I deserved because we'd been told to turn them off, and I did right away after being told again. Brett leans over and says, "Yeah, you're gonna get yourself into trouble!" I replied, "No, I'm going to get you into trouble. You're the one who owns seat 14C. They'll look at who purchased that seat and say, 'Next time that Brett guy flies, make sure to keep a careful eye on him, and give him the extra special search.'" Brett thought about that and then he got stern with me, "You'd better shape up, I'm not getting in trouble for your shenanigans." Ohh, the fun I could have continued to have, but those of you that know Brett know that I quit our of fear from any of my bones he could have easlily broken. Not that he's a mean guy, but he's just that big of a guy. We land, visit more waiting for bags, and went our seperate ways. What a fun ending to the trip, and all I can say is, I hope I never have to go to or from Cedar Rapids through DENVER ever again!

The Curse of Iowa

Ok, if you knew this before, and some of your did, I have now confirmed that there is a definite curse the just keeps emitting from Iowa. I was sent back for one final week this week, and today, was told to go home and prepare to come back for one final week again next week. Ohhh boy does that make me happy. I'd love to completely readjust my life because this company we work with cannot give us proper data that we need to make our software and their company run effectively. But that's not all. Here is the ugly airline story for this time, this time, the message is brought to you courtesy of United. They may fly the friendly skies, but they have angry an Tyler on board.

I had to fly United this time on purpose because of my poor scheduling and having a soccer match in Mitchell on Sunday afternoon. So, I got my 6:30 flight and was supposed to go through Chicago to get to Cedar Rapids. Fine. Not ideal, but it had to happen that way to accomidate the soccer game. So, I get done with my game and am running slightly behind. I high tail it to Sioux Falls, and get to the airport cutting it close to the 45 minute check in deadline. So, I get to the automated check in box, and swipe my credit card so it can read my information. Immediately, I'm greeted with a notice that my flight to Chicago is delayed, and I'll miss my connection. It gave me several re-booking options, but all of them on Monday. I spoke to an agent, and she informed me that I could get to Cedar Rapids that night, if I go through Denver. Yup, it's happened again! Denver. Sioux Falls, to DENVER, to Cedar Rapids, and last time I figured it was a fluke, but I guess I was wrong. Ohh well, at least I get in that night and don't have to wake up early to catch these planes. Ok, so I'm re-booked and headed to Cedar Rapids. As we're coming into Denver, the flight attendant gets on the PA system and begins assisting the passengers with gate information. "...flights to LA leave from B54, flights to Seattle leave from B64, flights to San Fransisco leave from Gate B46, and...the flight to Cedar Rapids from Gate B58. Which one of these is completely ridiculously not like the others since we're coming from SD?? I just kinda sat there and laughed and muttered, "Wow, who goes to Denver to go to Cedar Rapids. Someone needs to buy a new map."

So, I get to Iowa just fine, and get settled into my hotel room and get some rest. 8am the next morning, we arrive at the phone company and start to prepare for the big week. We start planning and configuring, and doing everything that needs to be done to get this thing going. Around 2pm, we hear a rumbling that there is a problem, and it's not the little kind you can work around. Sure enough, it's a big problem, and we're going to be delayed until at least Thursday. Ok, that leaves our being there a major flop because we leave Friday morning to start flying home again. So, they decide to have meetings and they were going to tell us right away this morning what the plan was going to be. As of lunchtime, we still didn't have an answer. Around 1:45, we are told to book flights back home, as we're leaving that night. So, I hit the website with fury trying to find my flight home. I found the one I needed, but it left at 2:55, which only left 1 hour and 10 minutes to get back to the hotel, pack, and get to the airport and make the plane. Not going to happen. Well, I was then left with 2 options:

1. Wait until tomorrow and head home in the morning.
2. Catch the 4:30pm flight, that connected back home through DENVER!

Guess which option I was asked to take. If you guessed the DENVER option you are correct! 3 times. Seriously! 3 times. If I had a dollar for each person that has laughed at me because they heard I'm flying to Sioux Falls from Cedar Rapids through DENVER, I'd have enough money for my rent payment this month. I guess at least it's a nice airport, and my flights have been on time. But here I sit in the middle of my 2 1/2 hour layover in DENVER, again!! So now I'm left in a major pickle. If I fly Delta, I might get pushed over to United and sent to DENVER again. Or, on my flights from Iowa when I'm coming home, as every Delta flight I've been on so far has been, I'll be 1 1/2 hours late leaving Cedar Rapids and won't get home until an ungodly hour, if I even make it on the same day. What do I do?? I wonder if I can get a direct flight on Delta to Atlanta, then to Cedar Rapids, that'd do the trick for me! Ohh....nope, I think it actually has to make a stop in DENVER first.

--this post written in an agitated state in DENVER.

Another Busy Weekend

Well, another busy soccer weekend is underway. Today, I will attempt something that is very uncommon, especially in the college soccer world. I'm assigned to three games today. Generally, the maximum is two, however, I was originally assigned to games in Yankton, then I was added to a tournament in Sioux Falls where they are short handed, then added a mens game in Yankton. So, I'll be on the road alot today, and pretty dog tired when it's over. Generally, keeping up with the men is a challenge after a women's game, however, I'm hoping to still be walking by the time we get to that one. Plus, one more college game tomorrow will wrap up a busy weekend of reffing for me again! Next weekend, guess how many games. If you said 1, you are correct. Not sure how I pulled that off, but I'm looking forward to that immensely. It's hard to believe we're to the point where only 3 1/2 weeks remain in the high school season, which will free up all my weeknights, and then only a month and 1/2 left of the college season. Where does the time go? My legs want to know when it's going to end.

Referee's Short...

Some would argue that they are short in the head. Others would say they are short in height. Others would say the ones they wear are too tight. Others would use this to describe last night's game. I had only done this one other time at a tournament in Sioux Falls, but 21 minutes into the second half, my game last night was called off because of lightning. It still goes as an official game as far as the international governing federation is concerned, however, I'm not sure what the high school handbook says yet on lightning and game rescheduling. That wrapped up a stretch of 7 games in the course of 5 days. This weekend, I'll start another long count on Friday. 2 games on Friday, 3 on Saturday, and one on Sunday before I have a week off of soccer and head back to Iowa for one final time. Then, I'll come back here to get dominated by soccer. Should be an interesting weekend though, because of my 6 games, 4 of them are college games. I'll be ready for the plane ride by the time 6:30 rolls around Sunday night. Knowing my luck, I'll end up sprinting through the Chicago airport to catch my last plane to Iowa.

Lovin' the Weather

I'm quite sure the weather we've been having currently is just about perfect. I spent my relaxing Sunday not relaxing much and doing too much work, on the field that is. I spent the day on the soccer field working for the money. I gave out a career high 8 yellow cards in that game, and it ended up with a 1-1 tie in overtime. I wasn't a fan of the overtime rule that is implemented in the college game. I prefer the way the high school league does it with a tie after regulation. I'm a huge fan of that, but I guess that's why you get paid the big bucks in the college game. After the game, however, the motorcycle was a treat in the evening for a great ride around the lake. And, as my mom is happy to hear, it's a lot more fun with a friend when you ride around. And yes, we wear our helmets like good kids. Safety first, after all!

Saturday was also a big day. I added a toy that I've been observing and debating for a while. I've added a Wii. Yes, I broke down and gave into the pressure. Man is that thing fun! And, I think that one of the best parts is that you can buy the old school Nintendo games with it. Yes!! All those titles that I grew up with. It reminded me of the first Nintendo I ever had. I still remember my brother and I pooled some money we'd been given and mom said she was going to town and we gave her the $89 to purchase the Nintendo. It game with Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. Hours and hours and hours of fun. I remember mom coming in the door with that Nintendo, and the sheer joy it brought to an eight year old. Of course, many games added, and I still wish I had that thing some times. Of course, I could always get one again, as the Wii doesn't have all the titles I want, but maybe some day it will. Of course, the classic bowling and tennis are fun too, plus I added the resort sports disc, where I've found I'm good at the wakeboarding game. I guess if you can't really get on the wanter, play a game where you can!